A Memory of Leonard Nimoy

When I was in college in the early 1970s, I was active in Hillel, the Jewish students’ organization on campus, and through that group worked on a student fundraising event for UJA, the United Jewish Appeal — an auction of items donated mostly by local business people that generally brought in a few hundred dollars.  Star Trek had already ended at that time, and Nimoy had gone on to Mission Impossible.  I recalled reading somewhere that when he was in high school he was involved in the Boston chapter of BBYO, the B’nai Brith Youth Organization, and got the idea of writing to Mr. Nimoy to ask him to donate an item for our auction.  He was one of a group of Jewish celebrities we contacted that year, but the only one who responded, sending an autographed script from Mission Impossible along with a personal cover letter wishing us well with our auction, which I immediately resolved to win and did, outbidding all opponents.

I’m in my 60’s now, far older than Leonard Nimoy was when he sent us that script, but I’ve still got it, and the personal cover letter, sealed in a plastic bag to prevent it from yellowing.  I don’t know if he ever saw the note we sent him thanking him for his donation, or realized the impact he made on a group of students with his personal gesture, but over the years, whenever I’ve heard him mentioned, that’s always been what I’ve thought of first — not so much that he sent us the script, some sheets of paper that might otherwise have gotten thrown away, but that he saw the value in sending it, and with it, a personal note.

Farewell, Leonard Nimoy, you will aways live long and prosper in our memories.